VIEWPOINTS – Surreal, formally rigorous works that investigate the current state: YOU WILL GET SICK and EVANSTON SALT COSTS CLIMBING

Over the course of the past week, I had the opportunity to take in a pair of formally rigorous Off-Broadway productions that conjure surreal worlds in their pursuit to make … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – At Soho Rep, Kate Tarker’s spiked play MONTAG confounds and seduces every step of the way

Earlier this week at the Walkerspace, I attended a performance of Soho Rep’s production of Montag by Kate Tarker. The new play is a vintage offering of Soho Rep, a … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – LESSONS IN SURVIVAL: 1971 is a stylish reenactment of James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni’s rich, still-timely dialogue on Blackness

Last night, the stage version of Lessons in Survival: 1971 opened Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre. Co-conceived by Marin Ireland, Peter Mark Kendall, Tyler Thomas (who also directs), and Reggie … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Robert Cuccioli delivers a titanic performance in Irish Rep’s revival of Eugene O’Neill’s problematic A TOUCH OF THE POET

This past weekend, I attended a rare revival of Eugene O’Neill’s A Touch of the Poet, which is currently being staged Off-Broadway by the Irish Repertory Theatre. As one of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Classical music roundup: Gustavo Dudamel connects to SCHUMANN with the NY Philharmonic & Handel’s RODELINDA returns to the Met

This past week, I paid a visit to the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera, who gave a pair of satisfying – if not necessarily transcendent – performances. As … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Ravishing new musicals from off the beaten path getting their (virtual) due: ANIMAL WISDOM & MIDNIGHT AT THE NEVER GET

Some of the most disarming new musicals I’ve seen over the years have never made it to Broadway, and therefore don’t get the attention they deserve. However, this week, courtesy … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: Manual Cinema’s CHRISTMAS CAROL, Wilma Theater’s production of HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING, and Dzieci Theatre’s FOOLS MASS

This week, I looked beyond Manhattan (Brooklyn! Philadelphia! Chicago!) to satisfy my theater craving. Here are my thoughts. MANUAL CINEMA’S CHRISTMAS CAROLManual CinemaThrough December 20 The folks at Manual Cinema … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Mint uncovers Micheál mac Liammóir’s THE MOUNTAINS LOOK DIFFERENT

Once again, Mint Theater Company lives up to its name by breathing life into Micheál mac Liammóir’s long lost 1948 Irish play The Mountains Look Different. The play – which is currently wrapping up … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Erica Schmidt’s gender-bending MAC BETH reframes and truncates the Scottish Play, and it’s fast and furious

Move over Gary and King Lear, you’re not the only Shakespeare-fueled bloodbath in town. That’s because New York is also currently playing host to Mac Beth, Erica Schmidt’s aggressively dark but … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Colin Quinn’s patch work solo show RED STATE BLUE STATE is a pessimistic state of the union address

Last night, Colin Quinn’s solo show Red State Blue State opened Off-Broadway at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Like our federation of fifty states, Mr. Quinn’s latest monologue-cum-standup comedy routine is a patch work … Continue Reading →